San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-10-27
The Lnnaiic Asylum-Dr. Dorsett
nSalld with the GOYernOr.v

"Solld with the Governor"
The following from the Austin States
n IN will show the recent succession
OF events at the Asylum
The recent developments in con-
nection with this institution have OPP
ened regular foodgate OF gossip
about the place, and, IL a man will but
hold his ears open, he can hear more
than he can retain.
But there are some things that are
going TO be really interesting. II is
said that AL Smith, the farmer, who
10 an officer of the institution, accor-
ding to the ruling Of the board itself,
is going TO bring suit This will test
the question, whether il requires q
full board or majority TO discharge.
But q most interesting matter comes
up in this. During the past sum-
mer, say in two or three months
ago, at a full meeting Of the board,
O resolution was presented, adapted
and made one of the bylaws OF the
institution, that no official or employe
shold be discharged from the institu-
ton on the recommendation of the gu
perintendent until such party have
had the privilege of coming before
the board and answering to the char
ges preferred. It is singular how
minds will change. At that same, or
very close subsequent meeting, DR..
Howard offered O resolution which
was unanimously adopted, severely
censuring DR.. Dorset for mistreating
an employe.
Later the same paper has the fol-
lowing:
Dr.. DoRsETT is now master Of the
situation at the lunatic asylum. At
tendants who testified against him in
the late investigation have been dis
missed, and two of the members Of
the board of managers who voted to
censure DIR. Dorset, and yesterday
voted to sustain the honor of the old
board that plighted it's faith to the
attendants who testified in the pro-
ceedings, and assured them that they
would not be dismissed for such tes-
timony, have been over--ruled by the
other three members of the board, and
have resigned their positions on the
board. What will result from this
action, what will be DR.. Dorsetts
next move, and who will be appoin-
ted to take the places of the members
of the board resigned, are all interes-
ting questions not easy of solution
yet their answers are awaited with
keenest interest.
The following is from the Houston
Post of the 18th inst:
AUSTIN, Tex, Oct. ia Post re-
porter interviewed to-day A. Deffen-
baugh, late member of the board of
managers of the lunatic asylum, who
with Mr.. Castleman, resigned from
the board Saturday. Deffenbaugh is
an old Texan who fought ct the battle
of San Jacinto. He says that when
Dorsett, superintendent of the asylum
first demanded of the board the dis
charge of certain employees he dor
sett) said it was because they were
his enemies and had sworn pack of
lies against him, but at the meeting
of the board Saturday various char
ges, such as incompetency and absen-
&c without leave, were preferred and
six of them were dismissed. Deffen-
baugh says all who were discharged
had testified against Dorsett on the
late investigation, after which the
board had passed a vote Of censure
on Dorset and asked him to resign.
These employees before testifying
we're promised by the board that
they should not be discharged for
that reason, and Deffenbaugh says
the point of honor was raised by the
board. Two of the members-Def-
enbaugh and Castleman-voted to
save the honor of the board, but
Messrs. Archer, Hersch6eld and the
only preacher on the board, DIR.
Howard, voted the opposite and
discharged the employees.
We notice that since Gov. Ross
has filed the vacancies caused by the
designations of Deffenbaugh and Cas-
tleman. We have mislaid the para
graph and cannot give the names OF
the appointees
Thus the pledge of the original
board-Dr. Dorsett's own board-to
the witnesses in the case against him
in which he was virtually found gull
ty, that they should be protected by
the board, has been disregarded, and
said board dishonored by Dorsett,
who is now openly sustained by the
Governor. Every one must see that
he is responsible for this digraceful
aud lamentable condition of things in
an institution designed solely for the
benefit of an unfortunate class, and
in the we'll being of which the whole
people of the state are interested.